Electric-impulse generator



Oct. 2, 1928.

' R. KAucH ET AL ELECTRIC IMPULSE GENERATOR Filed Jan. 30, 1925 NVENTORabort Kawch Char-66 L Fhauluo ATT EY/ Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

v UNITED, STATES .spnam xanqn AND CHARLES n'raunns, or DAYTON, OHIO.

1 'ELECIBIC-IMBULSE ennnnaroa.

Applicationfilel January 30, 1925. Serial No. 5,857.

This invention relates to an impulse gen erator for use with electricflares forthcpurpose of signalling in aircraft.

The principal, object of the'invention is to provide a small, compactimpulse. generator ofthe hot shot type, capable of quick and easyoperation for discharging and igniting signals and flares oriotherobjects to "he dischar djfrom'aircraft, or carried in;- nited on.t'efaircraft, the construction of the generator being such that thearmature is always recoiled at. a certain predetermined speed, togenerate the same electrical impulse regardlessof the speed with whichdifferent operators manipulate the same.

I In theaccompanying drawing illustrating the invention, 1

' Fig. 1 is a side VIBWOf the panel showing mounted thereon a signalswitch and the I impulse generator, the latter appearing partly insection and partly in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation 'of the panel, the impulsegenerator appearing in rear'elevation with. a part of therear wallbroken away to disclose the armature and coils contained therein. 7

I Inthe past, signals were dischargedfrom aircraft'bythe useof signalpistols, but this practice'has given place to the use ofpyrotechnicdischargers for all signalling purposesas being animprovementover the signal pistol, for. since it constitutes a permanentpart of theairplane it will not become misplaced or lost, and there isno danger of signals being fired into a part of the airplane. Thepresent invention provides for a plurality of signal switches mounted ong a panelswith a single firing knob within convenient reach of theoperator in the cockat I electrical installations.

pit, whereby any. one or more signals may beselected fandsimnltaneouslyfired by the de pression of the knob, it being possible to locate thedischarger at any convenient place on the fuselage, usually to the rearof the gunners cockpit. The firing knob referred to operates an impulsegenerator inasmuch as many types of airplanes equipped with magnetoignition, do not carry storage batteries as standard equipment. .Afurther feature of the present invention is to control the landingflares, which are usually mounted on the wing tips, from the same panelwith the signals and to ignite the flares by similar manipulation ofthe-impulse generaccessory. plunger so the end of the thread 22 thereonI ator, thussimplifying all of the The panel 10, shown'in' Figihismounted I in. either the pilots or observers cockpit and carries aplurality of signal switches 11. The firing knob 13 of the impulsegenerator 14 is conveniently centrally located on the 1 panel 10, andwithin easy reach of thepilot or observer. The keys 15 of the switchesas shown in Fig. 1 may be arranged so that when depressed the switch isgrounded, and the-flare or signal identified with the switch selectedwill be fired, following the operation poles of a laminated armature 18,fixed; on a hollow shaft 19 received in hearings in the casing 16. Arelatively stiff torsion spring 20 has one end fixed to the casing 16and the other end to the armature 18, normally to constrain the armatureto turn in onedi rection, when turned. in the opposite direc' tion: bythe depression of the knob 13.

' The knob 13 is mounted on the end of a plunger 21, which has anenlarged threaded end 22 received in the internallythreaded g endportion 23 of the shaft 19. The threads on the parts 22; and23 are of arelatively steep pitch sufiicient to turn the armature through about 180in the stroke of the plunger.

, lungerrod passes, the same at the limit of t e strokeof The threads 23are short'enough so the threaded end of the the plungen The operator indepressing the firing knob, meets wit-lithe resistance of the spring 20and continues to depress the knob until the armature is free to recoilunder the action of the spring. 20, when of course there is noresistanceto the depression of the plunger, and the operator is awarethat a complete stroke has been given the plunger. The spring 20, itwill be seen,

recoils the armature always at the same speed, so that substantially thesame electrical impulse is generated, regardless of how swift or slowthe plunger is depressed by different operators. The human element isthereby eliminated and it is made certain that flaresand signals will beproperly fired at all times.

The plunger 21 is reciprocable in a bearing 24 on the front of thecasing 16, which projects through the panel 10. T1115 bearing limits theoutward movement of the is left engaged in the end of the thread 23 inthe extended position of the plunger. A. coiled spring 25, actingbetween the, knob 13 and the bearing 24-, normally constrains theplunger to move to its extended position. In the depression of theplunger, the inward movement is limited by the engagement of the knobwith the hearing when the thread 22 has passed the end of the thread2-3. If the operator releases the knob at the proper interval theplunger will be retracted as the plunger is unthreaded. However if itshould occur that the plunger is held depressed for an instanttheoperator can easily retract the same by turning the knob and thusunthreading the plunger from the shaft 19 to its full extended position.The knob 13 is either knurled or flower shaped as indicated to affordsufficient bearing in the palm of the hand to prevent the turning of theplunger and knob in the depression of the latter in cooking thearmature.

lVe claim:

1. An impulse generator comprising a rotatable armature mounted on ashaft, said shaft having a steep pitched threaded part, a manuallyoperable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, said plungerserving when being depressed to turn said armature in one direction, andspring means for rapidly recoilin said armature to gener ate a current,said plunger and shaft being automatically disconnected at apredetermined point in the inner travel of the plunger to release thearmature.

2. An impulse generator comprising a ro tatable armature, a drivingelement. a driven element fixed to the armature, said driving elementbeing arranged to operate said driven element for only a predeterminedamount of travel of the driving element, and spring means for rapidlyrecoiling said armature at the limit of the movement thereof to generatea current.

3. An impulse generator comprising a rotatable armature fixed on ashaft, said shaft having a threaded part of a steep pitch, a

manually operable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, meanslimiting the ex-- tent of reciprocatory movement of said plunger, springmeans normally holding said plunger extended for manual depression, saidplunger serving when depressed to turn said armature in one direction,and spring means for rapidly recoiling said armature to generate acurrent.

a. An impulse generator comprising a rotatable armature fixed on ashaft, said shaft having a threaded part of a steep pitch, a manuallyoperable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, saidcounterpart being movable past the threaded part of said shaft at thelimit of depression of said plunger, and spring means for recoiling saidarmature, said plunger in its retracted position having the beginning ofits thread engaged on the threaded part of said shaft.

5. An iinpluse generator comprising a r0- tatable armature fixed on ashaft, said shaft having a threaded part of a steep pitch, a manuallyoperable plunger having a counterpart to fit said shaft, said counter-"part being movable past the threaded part of said shaft at the limit ofdepression of said plunger, spring means for recoiling said armature,and stops for limiting the reciproation of said plunger, the stoplimiting the outward movement of the plunger leaving the end of thethread of said plunger engaged in the threaded partof said shaft.

6. An impulse generator comprising a casing, an armature rotatabletherein on a hollow shaft, a coiled spring having one end attached tosaid casing and the other end to said armature, said shaft having ashort thread of .a steep pitch in one end thereof a plunger having athreaded head reciprocable in said shaft, a bearing for said plungerlimiting the outward movement of said plunger so the threaded end ofsaid head remains engaged in the threaded end of said shaft, and ahandpiece on said plunger limiting the inward movement of the same.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

' ROBERT KAUCH.

CHARLES L. PAULUS.

